7 Charged In Richmond Kidnapping Case

Seven people are in custody facing charges of kidnapping and forcible confinement in connection with the abduction of a man who was rescued by police in Richmond, B.C., last week.

In a news release announcing incident, Vancouver police said Friday the abduction was financially motivated and linked to organized crime.

After receiving information that a man had been abucted from downtown Vancouver on Oct. 20, Vancouver police and the Richmond detachment of the RCMP carried out an investigation that led to them to a Richmond business on No. 5 Road in Richmond, Vancouver police Insp. Brad Desmarais said in a news release.

Officers who set up surveillance on the business watched as a blindfolded man was led out the building and whisked away in a waiting car, which was followed by an SUV, Desmarais said.

The car carrying the abducted man pulled over on Highway 91 in Richmond long enough for him to be pushed from the car before speeding away.

While the man was immediately taken to safety by police, other officers pursued the two vehicles and quickly made arrests. Five people were arrested during the takedown, and within a few days two others turned themselves in, Desmarais said.

Additional charges are expected to be laid in connection with the seizure of weapons and other items made during the arrests.